The 2013 Walk season has come and gone. Starting August 15th in Lexington/Dawson County, NE, and ending this past Saturday Oct. 5 in McCook, NE, our 16 Walks raised an estimated $310,000 to support our communities, and fund research to find a cure for this terrible disease. An estimated 3000 walkers took part in the 2013 Walks to End Alzheimer's. A huge thank you to our volunteers, Walk Chairs, donors, sponsors, and most of all, the Walkers that helped make this year's Walks the most successful ever in our chapter.

The Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer's Association mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer's Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer's. Together, we can end Alzheimer's - the nation's sixth-leading cause of death.

B&R Stores, owners of Russ's Market in Lincoln and Hastings, Super Saver in Lincoln, Columbus, Grand Island, and Omaha, Apple Market in Kearney, and Save Best in Lincoln, raised over $13,000 to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. They offered their customers the opportunity to buy a forget-me-not flower for $1, or round up their purchase. Select stores also did special fundraisers, including selling purple popcorn. We appreciate the partnership of B & R stores corporate wide, in the is second of what will hopefully be many years to come!

Presentation of donation at 66th & O, Lincoln Russ's Market

Patrick, the top overall seller, won a TV

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Alzheimer's and Urinary Tract Infections

When
caregivers and families go to the Alzheimer’s Association website and sign up
on the message boards, alzconnected.org, searching the
Caregivers Forum with key words will pull about 30,000 posts containing the
word “Alzheimer’s”, 14,000 that include the word “brain” and 10,000 that
contain the word “neurologist.” No big surprises there, but here is the one
that may surprise the newer caregivers: If you type in “UTI”, you will pull
over 8,000 posts.

UTI's,
or urinary tract infections, can cause changes in someone with Alzheimer’s
disease that you might never expect. The impact can be very profound. Some of
the titles of the message board threads in which UTI's are mentioned tell the
story, including “Sudden decline,” “Yelling out” and “Manic episodes… WOW!”

The Alzheimer's Association commends the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for dedicating additional funds to Alzheimer's disease research. On September 18, 2013, an announcement was made about the fulfillment of a $45 million promise made by Dr. Francis Collins, NIH director, to advocates attending the Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Forum in the spring and all those who are impacted by Alzheimer's every day. Click here to read more.

﻿National Alzheimer’s Disease AwarenessMonth

November marks the 30th anniversary of President Reagan declaring the first National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. There has been substantial progress in the fight against Alzheimer’s, but with more than 5 million American’s living with this disease that has no way to prevent, cure or even slow its progression, this is still a disease that needs a strong fight.

Recognizing early signs of Alzheimer’s is one of the first steps to take to create awareness and provide help for those facing this deadly disease. Individualsmay experience one or more of the 10 Warning Signs in different degrees. If you notice any of them, please see a doctor. Below are “10 Warning Signs” to help educate about the early signs of Alzheimer’s.

Alzheimer’s Association 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life. One of the most common signs of Alzheimer's is memory loss, especially forgetting recently learned information. Others include forgetting important dates or events; asking for the same information over and over; relying on memory aides (e.g., reminder notes or electronic devices) or family members for things they used to handle on one’s own.

2. Challenges in planning or solvingproblems. Some people may experience changes in their ability to develop and follow a plan or work with numbers. They may have trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills. They may have difficulty concentrating and take much longer to do things than they did before.

What's typical: Making occasional errors when balancing a checkbook.

3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks athome, at work or at leisure. People with Alzheimer's often find it hard to complete daily tasks. Sometimes, people may have trouble driving to a familiar location, managing a budget at work or remembering the rules of a favorite game.

What's typical: Occasionally needing help to use the settings on a microwave or to record atelevision show.

4. Confusion with time or place: People with Alzheimer's can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time. They may have trouble understanding something if it is not happening immediately. Sometimes they may forget where they are or how they got there.

What's typical: Getting confused about the day of the week but figuring it out later.

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships. For some people, having vision problems is a sign of Alzheimer's. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast. In terms of perception, they may pass a mirror and think someone else is in the room. They may not realize they are the person in the mirror.

What's typical: Vision changes related to cataracts.

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing. People with Alzheimer's may have trouble following or joining a conversation. They may stop in the middle of a conversation and have no idea how to continue or they may repeat themselves. They may struggle with vocabulary, have problems findingthe right word or call things by the wrong name (e.g., calling a "watch" a "hand-clock").

What's typical: Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps. A person with Alzheimer's disease may put things in unusual places. They may lose things and be unable to go back over their steps to find them again. Sometimes, they may accuse others of stealing. This may occur more frequently over time. What's typical: Misplacing things from time to time, such as a pair of glasses or the remotecontrol.

8. Decreased or poor judgment. People with Alzheimer's may experience changes in judgment or decision-making. For example, they may use poor judgment when dealing with money, giving large amounts to telemarketers. They may pay less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean.

What's typical: Making a bad decision once in a while.

9. Withdrawal from work or socialactivities. A person with Alzheimer's may start to remove themselves from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sports. They may have trouble keeping up with a favorite sports team or remembering how to complete a favorite hobby. They may also avoid being social because of the changes they have experienced.What's typical: Sometimes feeling weary of work, family and social obligations.

10. Changes in mood and personality. The mood and personalities of people with Alzheimer's can change. They can become confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious. They may be easily upset at home, at work, with friends or in places where they are out of their comfort zone.

What's typical: Developing very specific ways of doing things and becoming irritable when aroutine is disrupted.

Anyone with questions about Alzheimer’s disease or seeking information should contact the Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 toll-free Helpline at 800-272-3900 or visit alz.org®. Experts are available to take calls from individuals concerned with their own cognitive health, as well as from family members and friends concerned about a family member and seeking resources.

In this issue

2013 Walk to End Alzheimer's

Russ's Market and SuperSavers Fundraiser

Alzheimer's and Urinary Tract Infections

Research News

National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month

2013 Walk to End Alzheimer's Sponsors

Respite Assistance Available

The Respite Care Assistance Program, funded by the Alzheimer’s Association Great Plains Chapter, gives family caregivers a temporary rest. Learn more here or by contacting Melanie Roberts at 402-420-2540 or mmroberts@alz.org.

Support the Alzheimer's Association and enjoy a great meal at Ruby Tuesday!As part of Alzheimer's Awareness month on Thursday, November 7th and Friday November 8th, when you dine at Ruby Tuesday 20% of your purchase will go to the Alzheimer's Association, Great Plains Chapter. Participating locations include Kearney and Grand Island, but check our website for additional locations as more may be added.

You must have a Ruby Tuesday certificate when you order to make the donation. Here is how it works, go to our website at www.alz.org/greatplains and download the Ruby Tuesday Give Back certificate. Take the certificate with you on November 7th or 8th and present it to your server. The donation can also be done on carry out orders, simply present the certificate when you pick up your order. If you have any questions, contact us at (402) 420-2540.

Thank you 2013 Walk to End Alzheimer's Sponsors

Dawson County

Pony Express Chevrolet/ Platte Valley Auto

James J. Graff DDS

Cozad Community Health System

Golden Living Center - Cozad

Butterfield Electric, Inc.

Cheyenne

Taco John's

Broken Bow

Lincoln

Sigma Kappa Sorority Alumnae

Bryan Health

Allstate

Hampton Realty

Catholic Health Initiatives (St. E)

Sandhills Publishing

US Bank

Farmers Mutual Ins. Co. of Nebraska

AseraCare Hospice of Lincoln

Ashland Care Center

Country House Residences

Bickford Assisted Living

Sumner Place

Waterford at Williamsburg

Lancaster Manor Rehabilitation Center

Homestead Rehabilitation Center

Tabitha, Your Answer for Elder Care

Hospice Community Care

Havelock Manor

Norfolk

Beckenhauer Construction

Motoplex of Norfolk

Cornhusker

Veyance Technologies Inc.

Home Instead Senior Care

Farm Credit Services of America

Elkhorn Valley Bank and Trust

Kearney

Mt. Carmel

O'Brien Straatman Bolinger Funeral Home

Trenton D. Snow Surveying Company

Kearney Clinic

Cottonwood Vet Clinic

Agency on Aging

Columbus

Columbus Community Hospital, Inc.

Husker Steel

Flexcon

First National Bank

Mary O'Brien Family

Golden Living

Columbus Otolaryngology Clinic

Meridian Gardens

Hastings

Atchity Development

College View Assisted Living

Ellerbroch Norris

Family Medical Center of Hastings

Good Samaritan Society –Hastings

Hastings Federal Credit Union

Livingston Butler Funeral Home

The Kensington

T-L Irrigation

WalMart

Beatrice

Exmark Manufacturing Co. Inc.

Beatrice Community Hospital & Health Center

Community Medical Alerts

Husker Rehabilitation & Wellness Centers

Dr. Sandra L Parks MD

North Platte

The Man Cave

Bible Supplies

North Platte Union Pacific

Family Medicine & Assoc. LLC

U-Save Pharmacy

Norman, Paloucek & Herman Law Offices

Complete Eye Care Associates

Shrake Body Shop

State Farm Insurance

Family Medicine

For more information about Alzheimer's Association, Great Plains, please contact us at:

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s disease.